5 EASY WAYS TO LOSE A GOAL

How bad do you really want your goal? Are you willing to exert extra-ordinary effort to achieve your goal? Or would you rather take the 5 easy ways to lose a goal? Truth is, not everyone is gifted with extra-ordinary perseverance and will-power to go the extra mile and achieve their goal. While many have taken the road less travelled and achieved their goal, even more have chosen to just sit on the sidelines, content in their comfort zone, idly watching as champions pass by. While many have ran their race and won gold and glory, still many have chosen to take these 5 easy ways to lose a goal:

1.No clear, written goal:
“If it’s not written, it did not happen” Unless you can define your goal clearly and have written it down, including your plan of action and daily goals you must accomplish along the way, you’re likely to lose enthusiasm and eventually forget your goal. Everyday distractions at work and at home can easily steer your focus away from your goal. A clear, written goal constantly reminds you where you need to be.

2.Unrealistic goal:
“Shoot high, hit high”, sounds nice, doesn’t it? But in reality, this phrase is probably the single most common cause of frustration and depression among businessmen, sales professionals, and other goal seekers. Nothing can be more frustrating than to shoot for an unrealistically high goal and then only hit 40 percent of that goal. On the other hand, had you aimed for a more realistic lower goal, that same effort would have landed you so much closer to your goal, boosting your confidence and encouraging you to continue and shoot a little bit higher next time. Nobody knows you better than you. You know what you are capable of accomplishing. You know at what point reality ends and fantasy begins. Keep your goals within realistic limits.

3.Lack of motivation:
Usually, when you start off on a goal, you are so full of positive energy and enthusiasm. Midway towards your goal, this motivation gradually tapers off due to factors such as frustration, problems, doubts, and other distractions. Left unchecked, the motivation to move forward eventually fades, and so does your goal. Lack of motivation is a direct consequence of not having a written goal and of having unrealistic goals. Having a realistic goal clearly written down allows you to see your progress and motivates you even more to move forward.

4.Failure to include “other essential items” into your goal planning:
How many times has this happened? You set up a goal to save enough money to buy an item you’ve always wanted. And just about when you reached your goal and ready to buy that item, somebody gets sick and you have to pay the hospital bills. And your goal suddenly goes poof! While we cannot anticipate everything that might happen, it’s always a good idea to include essential items into your goal planning. These essentials would include items that you normally pay for regularly (rent, utilities, taxes, insurance, groceries), items that you cannot afford to neglect as you strive for your goal. In effect, including these “other essential items” into your goal planning becomes a reality check since you can already determine whether your goal is still realistic.

5.Lack of commitment:
Aside from being S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bounded), a goal should also be Personal. Commitment to a goal only comes when you know you will personally gain or suffer personal loss with your goal. A goal should be your own personal goal and not something somebody else forced upon you. A goal with no solid commitment behind it will never prosper.

Achieving goals is never an easy task. Depending on how intense your desire is to succeed, you can either work hard towards your goal, or you can take these 5 easy ways to lose a goal.